Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 episode 6 recap: A judging first

As Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 nears its finale, the six remaining bakers face another first for the season that has had the bakers twisting and turning from all the Food Network changes. Although Jody stumbled after earning immunity, Adam looks to take his recent double win in a different direction. Could the path to the finale be paved with a taste of nostalgia?

During the holiday season, gatherings might not be the easiest food menus to plan. From vegan to gluten-free, that traditional holiday dessert recipe might need to be adapted so that everyone can have a bite. That concept was the basis for the pre-heat on this episode of Holiday Baking Championship.

After randomly selecting a container, the six remaining bakers had to prepare either a gluten-free or a vegan dessert. For home bakers, this challenge was a reminder that adapting recipes can make for flavorful desserts. No one should have to just eat a bowl of fruit when everyone else is having a decadent treat.

For the most part, all of the desserts were quite good. Even if the gluten-free desserts might have been a touch grainy or the vegan desserts might have needed a slightly different texture, the reality is that anyone would be happy to enjoy these sweet treats. More often than not, the judges commented that they would have never known that these desserts fit particular food choices.

In an outcome that no one saw coming, Marilyn won the pre-heat. Her vegan chocolate was absolutely divine. From the richness to the combinations of chocolate flavors, the dessert impressed the judged and earned her the victory.

For winning the pre-heat, Marilyn earned a big advantage for the main heat. Faced with modernizing nostalgic desserts, Marilyn was able to choose and assign the desserts. Although some bakers might have used the advantage to sabotage the competition, Marilyn seemed to be considerate. No one was caught saying, Oh Marilyn, in a bad way.

Given that Adam had immunity, it seemed fitting that Marilyn gave him the ambrosia salad, which might have been the hardest dessert. Does anyone really like ambrosia salad? The second worst dessert might have been the orange raspberry gelatin mold, which Marilyn picked for herself. Even though she said that she had something in mind, the reality is that sometimes there isn’t room for gelatin.

Why prompted the judges to do this on Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 episode 6?

While most of the bakers took this particular Holiday Baking Championship Season 8 challenge in stride, it seems more and more apparent that the bakers’ successes seem to come in waves. After winning immunity, Jody has lost his mojo.

After last week’s several mis-steps, Jody continues to struggle. Tasked with modernizing the grasshopper pie, Jody baked scared. His dessert might have looked pretty, but it had mistakes in layer after layer. From a thick cookie bottom to lacking in mint flavor, it earned him a spot in the bottom.

In another twist, Marilyn fell swiftly. After impressing with chocolate cake, her gelatin forward dessert was more appropriate for a summer barbecue than a holiday dessert. In addition, she didn’t really modernize the dessert. Although it was tasty, it just wasn’t at the same level as some of the other desserts.

Unfortunately, it was the last time that Oh Marilyn will be uttered on Holiday Baking Championship Season 8. The always smiling baker has left the kitchen.

While Marilyn bid adieu, another first happened in the Food Network kitchen. During one dessert judging, the judges left the table. Yes, really.

When Adam presented, the judges left. While they returned, Carla Hall stated that they were just joking. Since Adam had immunity, they thought that maybe they didn’t need to taste his dessert. Or, maybe they just didn’t want to eat ambrosia salad.

Similar to many other challenges, Adam found a way to make a dud shine. His take was elevated and delicious. While there was still an element of the classic dessert, the modern take was welcome.

Although Adam impressed again, he wasn’t the winner in this round. After struggling last episode. Jose earned a big win. His take on the pineapple upside down cake wowed the judges and earned him the win.

The biggest surprise of the season is that Sabrina hasn’t won a challenge yet. Even though she had the best use of the twist, walnuts in syrup, she can’t seem to earn top billing. Could the eventual Holiday Baking Champion never win a single challenge yet earn the Food Network crown? That idea would be fitting for the season filled with firsts.

Which baker do you think will win it all on Holiday Baking Championship Season 8? Do you think that the Food Network competition is Adam’s to lose?